Diver&#39;s pack

ABSTRACT

A diver&#39;&#39;s pack of compact construction comprises a lightweight frame carrying a pair of shoulder hooks designed to be hung over a vessel rail; improved air tank holder structure on the frame; and an openable chamber on the frame to release ballast particles when activated by the diver. Quick release shoulder straps are also provided.

limited States Patent [191 Anderson [451 Oct. 22, 1974 [54] DIVER'S PACK [76] Inventor: Robert L. Anderson, 2522 E.

Pearson Ave., Fullerton, Calif. 92631 [22] Filed: June 28, 1973 {211 Appl. No.: 374,473

[52] U.S. Cl. 61/70, 114/16 E [51] Int. Cl. B636 11/02 [58] Field of Search 114/16 R, 16 E, 16 A;

61/69 R, 70; 128/142, 142.2, 142.4; 224/5 BC, 5 P, 6, 25 R, 25 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,050,822 8/1936 Weber et a1. 224/25 X 2.712.404 7/1955 Miller 224/25 A 2,968,159 l/l96l Edmund 61/69 R 3,065,888 ll/l962 61/70 UX 3,120,332 2/1964 224/25 A X 3,191,828 6/1965 Senne 224/5 BC X 3,670,509 6/1972 Walters 61/69 R Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Exanziner-Galen L. Barefoot Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William W. Haefligcr [57] ABSTRACT A divcrs pack of compact construction comprises a lightweight frame carrying a pair of shoulder hooks designed to be hung over a vessel rail; improved air tank holder structure on the frame; and an openable chamber on the frame to release ballast particles when activated by the diver. Quick release shoulder straps are also provided.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 1 DIVERS PACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to scuba diving equipment, and more particularly concerns an improved pack which is lightweight, compact, and substantially enhances underwater safety.

There is a continual need for improvement in scuba diving equipment, especially packs which carry the air tank or tanks used by divers. For example, present .packs lack the compact, lightweight and safety features now provided by the present invention, significantly enhancing the utility of such equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the invention toprovide a div- I ers pack meeting the above needs. Basically, the pack comprises a lightweight frame carrying a pair of shoulder hooks designed to be easily hung over a vessel rail while a diver enters or leaves the water; improved air tank holder or clamp means on the frame; and structure carried by the frame to release ballast pieces or particles when activated by the diver. The latter structure may with unusual advantages comprise a ballast chamber having a releasable closure which may be quickly opened by the diver to release the ballas't, as

" will be seen; also, provision is made for connection of either single or multiple air tank retaining clamp straps to the frame.

Additional objects include the provision of straps extending between the frameand terminals of the shoulder hooks, to fit under the divers arms, the straps having quick release connections enabling the diver to release himself from the pack in an underwater emergency, as for example, in heavy surf or if the pack becomes entangled or trapped, underwater. Such straps may be stored in another compartment carried by the frame between the frame plate and the air tank clamp connection to the frame.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of anillustrative embodiment.

will be more fully understood from scription and drawings, in which:

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a divers pack incorporating the invention;

the following de- FIG. 2is an elevation taken on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 1 showing a modified form FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a boat supporting the FIG. 1 pack. I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the invention, the pack 9 includes a lightweight frame and a pair of divers shoulder hooks thereon, the hooks being" substantially rigid to hook over and support the pack on a vessel rail. In the illustrated example, the frame generally designated at 10 includes a rigid metal back plate 11 which may consist of aluminum and support an elastomer sheet 12 at the inside of the plate to cushion against the back of the diver. The lower extent of the upright plate 1 1 includes laterally oppositely extending tabs 11a which are bent or project forwardly as shown in FIG. 8 to conform to the curvature of the divers back. A belt 13 is connected to the tabs, as by passage-through vertical slits 14 in the latter, to attach the plate to the divers trunk, about which the belt is removably connectable as via suitable buckle means 13a and 13b seen in FIG. 6.

Divers shoulder hooks include metal hook members 15 having end portions 15a attached as by fasteners 16 to the upper extent 11b of plate 11, at the rear side of the latter. Elastomer sleeves 17 extend along and about metallic hook members 15 to cushion the load trans ferred via the hooks'to the shoulders of the diver. FIG. 9 shows the hooks supporting the pack 9 on the rail 18 of a vessel 19'. In use, a diver may thereby support the relatively heavy pack on the vessel as he enters or leaves the water, the pack thus being readilytransferrable onto or off the divers'shoulders while he is in the water, and at the surface. v I

The invention also includes holder means on the pack frames to support air tank structure. In the FIGS. 1-7 example, the holder means generally designated at 20 includes an adjustable clamp carried by the frame, the clamp including two generally C-shaped wide metal strap sections 21 terminally interconnected by webs 22 and 23. Adjustable fasteners 24 interconnect the webs to enable closing of the gap between the latter for tightening the like C-shaped sections 21 about a pair of air tanks 25 slipped into positions within the clamp sections as seen in FIG. 1. The fasteners 24 also pass through the web 26a of a metal bracket 26 which also may be considered to form part of the holder means. That bracket includes legs 26b removably connected I by fasteners 27 with angled metal tangs 28 integrally connected with the frame plate, as via structure 29.

The latter may form a rigid metallic enclosure that includes a rear wall 30, sidewalls 31, bottom wall 32 and a removable or .openable top 33 as seen in FIG. 5. An adjustable fastener 34 passes through the top 33 and has threaded connection at 35 with a flange 36 integral with wall 30,'allowing opening of top 33, when desirably to give access to the interior 37 of the enclosure. Articles such as belting may be stored in that enclosure, as will be referred to.

- A further feature of the invention concerns the provision of structure on the frame to releasably retain auxil iary weight or ballast means for selective release by the diver when desired, enabling the diver to rise to the surface. In the example, such structure may advantageously include a chamber, as at 38 for example, for reception of heavy metal particles or pieces, the chamber having a bottom closure 39'. Such particles may for example consist of pieces of lead, such as No. 2 shotindicated at 40. A manually operable release 41. is'shown as connected with the closure to open it enabling free dropping of the metal particles from the interior 42 of the ballast chamber. The release may have a handle indicated at 43 in FIG. 5, and comprise a rod projecting through the sidewall 44 and through. an eye 45 attached to the closure. Upon out-pulling of the release against the resistance of a compression spring 46, the rod 41 is removed from the eye to allow downswinging of the closure about the axis of hinge 47, and to a down-position indicated at 39a in FIG. 5. Note that there is no pack structure beneath the closure, so that escape of the'ballast particles is not blocked. The lead sure structure 89 to lugs 28 to the frame plate 11.

Holes 87 may be provided in the frame plate 11, for

I tying or connecting auxiliary articles or equipment to shot particles may be introduced into chamber 38, with closure 39 closed, as via a side port 50 in wall 44. A re movable cap 51 has threaded connection with a nipple 52 carried by that wall, to close port 50. Up to pounds of lead shot may be placed in that chamber, as compared with a total pack weight (without the shot) or about 6 pounds, for example.

The opposite side wall 53 of chamber 38 carries a projecting threaded stud 54 to which a tool 55 is connectible as via wing nut 56, and tool 55 may comprise a wrench or other means for loosening and tightening fastener nuts on the pack.

Another feature of the invention concerns the provision of strap means extending between the frame and the terminals of the hooks to fit under the divers arms, the strap means including sections and quick release connections therebetween for disconnecting the sections at the option of the diver. This enables the underwater diver to free himself from the pack inan emergency, for example, if the pack becomes tangled in kelp or jammed against rocks or coral. In the example seen in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, the strap sections are indicated at 60 and 61, with snap interconnection at 62. Sections 60 are connected to the tubular terminals 63 of the metal hooks, as via retainer plugs 64 having threaded shanks 65 that pass through openings 66 in strap section end fittings 67. The latter are clamped to the ends of the terminals 63 by the plug flanges 68. Shanks 65 have threaded interfit with the terminal bores. Sections 61 have end clips 69 which releasably clip into slits 70 in the frame plate 11. For quick release, the diver merely unsnaps the connections 62. Belt sections 60 and 61 may be folded and stored in the compartment or enclosure interior 37 previously discussed.

The modification seen in FIG. 8 is the same as described above, except only one air bottle clamp 75 is mounted on the pack. The terminals 76 and 77 of the C-shaped clamp strap may be adjustably tightened toward one another as by the fastener 78, one end of which is headed at 79 and the other end of which has threaded connection with nut 80 on the clamp terminal 77. A tightening handle appears at 81, and cannot be loosened in view of its interference with clamp 75 when the handle is turned about the axis of fastener 78. A spring 81 urges the terminals apart. Ears 83 attached to the clamp 75 have releasable connection at 84 to the lugs 28. Also in FIG. 8, brackets 88 connect the enclothe pack, as for example, flotation equipment.

I claim:

1. In a divers pack, the combination comprising:

a. an upright frame including a back plate, and a pair of divers shoulder hooks each having removable attachment to the plate, the hooks being substantially rigid to hook over and support the pack on a vessel rail,

b. holder means on the frame to support air tank structure,.

c. structure on the frame to releasably retain auxiliary weight means for selective release thereof by the diver, said structure including a chamber for reception of ballast particles, the chamber having a bottom closure and there being a manually operable release connected with the closure to open the closure enabling free dropping of the ballast particles from the chamber, the closure located below the level of hook attachment to the frame, and

d. straps extending between the frame and end terminals of said hooks, to fit under the divers arms, each strap including two sections and quick release connections therebetween for disconnecting the sections at the option of the diver, there also being fittings removably connecting the strap sections closest to the respective hook end terminals to said terminals which are tubular,

e. said chamber attached to the back plate and spaced below the level of said hooks, with the back plate extending at one side of the chamber, there being a rigid enclosure directly above the chamber and attached to the back plate, said holder means attached to the back plate via said enclosure at the side thereof opposite the back plate, the enclosure having an openable top closure accessible adjacent the rear side of the plate, there being a wall between and separating the interiors of the chamber and enclosure.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said holder means includes an adjustable clamp carried by the frame.

3. The invention of claim 2 including the air tank structure releasably supported by the holder means at the rear side of the frame, and a compressible cushion attached to the frame at the front side thereof to cushion loading applied to the divers back, there also being cushioning means on the hooks to cushion loading applied to the divers shoulders. I

4. The invention of claim 1 including the ballast particles in the chamber. 

1. In a diver''s pack, the combination comprising: a. an upright frame including a back plate, and a pair of diver''s shoulder hooks each having removable attachment to the plate, the hooks being substantially rigid to hook over and support the pack on a vessel rail, b. holder means on the frame to support air tank structure, c. structure on the frame to releasably retain auxiliary weight means for selective release thereof by the diver, said structure including a chamber for reception of ballast particles, the chamber having a bottom closure and there being a manually operable release connected with the closure to open the closure enabling free dropping of the ballast particles from the chamber, the closure located below the level of hook attachment to the frame, and d. straps extending between the frame and end terminals of said hooks, to fit under the diver''s arms, each strap including two sections and quick release connections therebetween for disconnecting the sections at the option of the diver, there also being fittings removably connecting the strap sections closest to the respective hook end terminals to said terminals which are tubular, e. said chamber attached to the back plate and spaced below the level of said hooks, with the back plate extending at one side of the chamber, there being a rigid enclosure directly above the chamber and attached to the back plate, said holder means attached to the back plate via said enclosure at the side thereof oppOsite the back plate, the enclosure having an openable top closure accessible adjacent the rear side of the plate, there being a wall between and separating the interiors of the chamber and enclosure.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said holder means includes an adjustable clamp carried by the frame.
 3. The invention of claim 2 including the air tank structure releasably supported by the holder means at the rear side of the frame, and a compressible cushion attached to the frame at the front side thereof to cushion loading applied to the diver''s back, there also being cushioning means on the hooks to cushion loading applied to the diver''s shoulders.
 4. The invention of claim 1 including the ballast particles in the chamber. 